System for electronic doorframe
A system for providing electronic features in a doorframe includes a body structure having a top wall, a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls. The walls define an interior space of the body structure. A plurality of ports are formed in the top wall and a plurality of ports are formed in the bottom wall with each port opening into the interior space. One or more of the top wall ports is longitudinally aligned with a respective bottom wall port to form a port pair. A diverter is positioned in the interior space and extends in the interior space from one side wall and toward an opposing side wall. The diverter spans between the port pair. The diverter has a diverter surface that is configured for directing an element that extends through a port of the port pair toward an area in the body structure.
The invention relates generally to door frames and partially to electronic door frames for incorporating electronic door hardware and control features.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONElectronic doors, such as those doors that incorporate electronic door hardware and other features that must be powered and cabled appropriately for operation, are used in various facilities. Generally, electronic doors and the electronic features therein are powered and connected through the doorframe, which is generally considered an “electronic door frame”. Such electronic doors and frames are often utilized in facilities where security and controlled access are important, such as schools, prisons, medical facilities, and other facilities wherein it is desirable to control ingress and egress of a room or facility or to remotely lock and unlock certain doors.
Generally, for electronic door frames, power lines and other cabling are brought to the door and frame through appropriate electrical conduit located in the walls and ceilings of the facility. The conduit extends from junction boxes proximate to the doorframe, and the cables are delivered to access points around the frame. In some installations, the door frames might be hollow and are abutted against stud and drywall construction, thus providing space behind the frame for the cabling during initial installation. Door frames are often abutted against masonry, where the space behind the frame is filled with the masonry units and mortar. In some other installations, the door frames might be pre-wired and then installed and coupled to appropriate cabling and power lines. For example, pre-wired door frames might present a plug-in connector to then be connected with external cabling. As such, existing door frames might incorporate various conduit and other elements that are secured in the frame that may or may not be prewired for usage. Any conduit, and possibly cabling and power lines are installed in the factory and then shipped to a site and installed.
Accordingly, existing electronic door frames and systems provide very little flexibility in being adaptable at the site. Furthermore, because the door frames are installed and secured against masonry, the wiring would all have to be run and completed before the frame is installed and sealed with the masonry. Once installed, there is very little flexibility in being able to run cabling. Furthermore, it is very difficult to change the configuration of the door electronics once it is installed. For example, it may be desirable to change the electronic hardware or to add additional electronic hardware and features to a door once it is installed, or to incorporate new or updated electronic security hardware devices as they are developed in the marketplace.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a system for an electronic doorframe which provides significant improvements over existing designs. Specifically, the system of the invention provides the ability to cable and connect electronic features of the door and the door frame after initial installation for the future life of the door and frame. Furthermore, it provides the ability to retrofit a door, such as by changing hardware or adding hardware very easily even after the doorframe has been secured with masonry. The inventive system is flexible in the location of the components of the system within the doorframe and provides features which enhance the cabling tasks associated with connecting an electronic doorframe to suitable power sources and other cabling. Accordingly, the present invention provides significant cost savings and flexibility in the installation, use, and retrofitting of an electronic door and an electronic doorframe.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Returning to
In one embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the Figures, sidewalls 36, 38 are generally planar and thus form a box—like body structure 30. System 10 of the present invention is configured for fitting into and working with a hollow doorframe as having flat or planar walls, as illustrated in
The system, in one embodiment, incorporates elements for securing the body structure 30 in the frame. As illustrated in
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In another embodiment of the invention, the system may be secured in other ways to the frame. For example, system 10 and particularly body structure 30 may be welded to the frame, or might be secured by being bolted or screwed into the frame. In other embodiments, adhesives might be used to secure the system into the frame. In still another embodiment, the system 10 or elements thereof might actually be formed as part of the frame rather than being held against it. So the present invention and its use in a door frame or as part of a frame is not limited to the embodiments shown in the illustrations. As such, the system 10 might include the frame and one or more body structures as a generally unitary element for installation in a building or structure.
The system 10 of the present invention provides a specific ability to incorporate electronic features into a doorframe and door structure and further provides the ability to direct the appropriate cabling into position for being coupled with one or more of the electronic components. Furthermore, the present invention provides a way to retrofit and add electronic features to a doorframe after installation of the doorframe and door have occurred. To that end, the system 10 incorporates various elements for guiding and directing elongated structures, such as lengths of cable as well as tools for fishing the cable (eg. Fish tape), into the walls and in and around the doorframe.
In accordance with one feature of the invention, a plurality of ports 60a, 60b are formed in the top wall 32 of the body structure. Also, a plurality of ports 62a, 62b are formed in the bottom wall 34 as illustrated in
The present invention further includes various features for directing any cabling or cabling tools through the interior space and into and through various ports depending upon where the cabling is to be directed. To that end, system 10 incorporates a diverter structure 66 or diverter as illustrated in the cross-sectional view of
For example, as illustrated in
In accordance with another feature of the invention, each of the ports 60a, b and 62a, b as illustrated in
Referring to the cross-sectional view of
In accordance with another feature of the invention, a transition wall 120 is positioned between two ports of the plurality of ports that are formed in one of the top wall or the bottom wall. The wall 120 extends into the interior space 40 for separating the ports beyond the sloped transition portions 84. The transition wall 120 provides further direction to a cable or tool that is inserted in the opening 70 and directed to one of the respective ports. To that end, portion 122 of the wall 120 may be angled or sloped toward the opening 70 to further facilitate directing a cable or tool from the opening and into the direction of the port 60b or 62b. As illustrated in
Depending upon the installation and use of the system 10, as illustrated in the Figures, one or more caps 130 may be implemented with the system in order to cover the ports and the openings defined thereby and to keep mortar and other debris out of the body structure and interior space. Of course, the caps 130 would not be used when cables extend through the ports and into and through the body structure 30.
Referring again to
For example, referring now to
Turning again to
As it would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, the present invention is not limited to the number of systems that might be incorporated within a doorframe for accommodating electronic features. As it will be understood, various openings are formed in a frame 16 to align with the openings 70 within each of the systems 10. Those openings will be covered by the appropriate electronic hardware used in the doorframe. If particular hardware is not utilized, but a system 10 is in place and the frame has a respective opening, a covering plate, such as a blank metal plate might be utilized that fits flush within the surface of the frame for covering the frame opening as well as the opening 70 within the systems 10. For example, a system 10 might be installed, but not used immediately. The system would be available for a future installation of electronic hardware. In that way, the system 10 of the invention provides expandability within an electronic doorframe and also provides the ability to retrofit the frame for different doors and different electronic feature combinations and scenarios.
Accordingly, a frame utilizing systems 10 of the invention may be installed regardless of if power is currently run to the frame. If no electronic features are currently utilized, the cover plates will be used and the doorframe will perform as any other frame. However, at any time, power can be run in the future to any and all devices to virtually handle the configurations needed. Additionally, utilizing the invention, doors that have some electronics that are installed originally can then later be changed, replaced or updated with new hardware and devices and new appropriate wiring within the doorframe. The systems 10 of the invention provide for cabling to be fished through the various body structures 30 and conduit 12 by virtue of the smooth transitions and pathways that are presented within the systems 10 for the cabling and the tools used to fish the cabling. Referring again to
In accordance with another embodiment of invention, it may be desirable to segregate certain of the cables within the interior space 40 as they may be directed through different conduit and for different purposes. For example, it may be desirable to segregate low-voltage cabling from higher voltage power cables.
To that end, system 10b further includes one or more separation walls 180. The separation walls are configured to extend from the inside surface of side wall 36b and into the interior space 40. In one embodiment, as illustrated in
In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in
In accordance with one feature of the invention, the separation walls 180 are removable. For example, at the point of connection of 190 of the walls 180 on the inside of sidewall 36b, the walls 180 might be weakened so as to be snapped off away from wall 36B and removed to allow access through openings 170, 174 to one of the ports 60a, 62a through the interior space 40. That is, the walls 180 might be removed to thus provide an arrangement similar to the embodiment illustrated in
Alternatively, the walls 180 may be separate pieces that may be removably secured to the inside of surface wall 36b, using an appropriate securement mechanism (not shown) when they are desired. For example, the walls might be snapped into place on the inside of wall 36b. As such, if it is desirable to segregate or separate certain portions of the interior space 40, the various knockout sections of sidewall 36b might be removed and the walls 180 might be snapped into position or otherwise secured on the interior surface of sidewall 36b to form separate interior space portions as illustrated in
Accordingly, the systems of the invention in combination with frame 16 provide access to cables for providing electronic features within the doorframe. The systems provide not only the necessary access to the cabling for new installation, but also provide the ability to retrofit doors by providing quick to the systems, conduit, and the interior of the doorframe. Cables and tools, such as a fish tape, may be smoothly directed through the body structures of the various systems and may be readily accessed and further directed into other conduit and other systems for interconnecting all the various electronic features and hardware within an electronic doorframe and door. The system of the invention may also be implemented at various positions around a doorframe for accommodating different electronic features and hardware. The retrofit aspects of the invention provide the ability to add hardware after the initial installation of the doorframe or to reconfigure the doorframe after it has been installed. The doorframe does not have to be removed, and masonry around the doorframe does not have to be significantly disturbed for directing cable to where it is needed or retrofitting the doorframe after installation.
In alternative uses, such as for installations that might require openings in sidewall 36b, the opening 70a can accommodate such arrangements as well. For example as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of Applicant's general inventive concept.
Claims
1. A system for providing electronic features in a doorframe comprising:
- a body structure including a top wall, a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, the walls defining an interior space of the body structure;
- a plurality of ports formed in the top wall and a plurality of ports formed in the bottom wall, each port opening into the interior space;
- at least one of the top wall ports being positioned opposite at least one of a respective bottom wall port to form a port pair;
- a diverter surface extending into the interior space between the port pair and sloping from one side of the body structure proximate a port of the port pair and toward an opposing side of the body structure and then sloping back to the one side proximate to the other port of the port pair;
- the diverter surface configured for directing an element that extends through a port of the port pair toward an area in the interior space of the body structure.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the top wall ports is positioned opposite a respective bottom wall port for forming a plurality of port pairs, the diverter surface configured for directing an element extending through a port of one port pair toward a port of a different port pair.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a spring clip structure coupled with an exterior surface of a side wall and extending away from the side wall, the spring clip structure operable for flexing against a doorframe for wedging the body structure in the doorframe.
4. The system of claim 3 further comprising at least one spacer element positioned on an exterior surface of a side wall to extend away from the side wall and configured for engaging a door frame, the spacer element positioned on a side wall generally opposite to the side wall coupled with the spring clip.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of the side walls are generally planar for forming a box-like body structure.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one opening formed in a sidewall of the body structure for providing access to the interior space.
7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a separation wall positioned in the interior space and spanning between the at least one opening and at least one port for defining a separated portion of the interior space of the body structure.
8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a wall positioned between two ports of the plurality of ports formed in at least one of the top wall and bottom wall, the wall extending into the interior space for separating the ports.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one port includes a port opening and a sloped transition portion, the sloped transition portion sloping from the interior space of the body structure and to the port opening.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one port is configured for receiving an end of electrical conduit and includes a seat that is configured for seating with the electrical conduit end.
11. The system of claim 7 wherein the separation wall is removably secured with a side wall of the body structure.
12. A doorframe for providing electronic features comprising:
- a frame structure;
- a body structure secured in the frame structure and including a top wall, a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, the walls defining an interior space of the body structure;
- a plurality of ports formed in the top wall and a plurality of ports formed in the bottom wall, each port opening into the interior space;
- at least one of the top wall ports positioned opposite a respective bottom wall port to form a port pair;
- a diverter surface extending into the interior space between the port pair and sloping with respect to at least one of the ports;
- the diverter surface configured for directing an element that extends through a port of the port pair toward an area in the interior space of the body structure.
13. The doorframe of claim 12 wherein each of the top wall ports is positioned opposite a respective bottom wall port for forming a plurality of port pairs, the diverter surface configured for directing an element extending through a port of one port pair toward a port of a different port pair.
14. The doorframe of claim 12 further comprising a spring clip structure coupled with an exterior surface of a side wall and extending away from the side wall, the spring clip structure operable for flexing against the frame structure for securing the body structure in the doorframe.
15. The doorframe of claim 12 wherein the frame structure includes at least one flat inner surface, a plurality of the side walls of the body structure being generally planar for forming a box-like body structure that is secured against the at least one flat inner surface of the frame structure.
16. The doorframe of claim 12 wherein the diverter surface slopes from one side of the body proximate a port of the port pair and toward an opposing side of the body and then slopes back to the one side proximate to the other port of the port pair.
17. The doorframe of claim 12 wherein at least one port includes a port opening and a sloped transition portion, the sloped transition portion sloping from the interior space of the body structure and to the port opening.
18. The doorframe of claim 12 wherein at least one port is configured for receiving an end of electrical conduit and includes a seat that is configured for seating with the electrical conduit end.
19. The doorframe of claim 12 further comprising at least one opening formed in a sidewall of the body structure for providing access to the interior space and comprising a separation wall positioned in the interior space and spanning between the at least one opening and at least one port for defining a separated portion of the interior space of the body structure.
3472317 | October 1969 | Fowler |
3836696 | September 1974 | Gressitt et al. |
3971894 | July 27, 1976 | Faust |
4042291 | August 16, 1977 | Moriyama |
4152752 | May 1, 1979 | Niemi |
4486620 | December 4, 1984 | Ball |
D278623 | April 30, 1985 | Anderson |
4535197 | August 13, 1985 | Butler |
4647715 | March 3, 1987 | Butler |
4655379 | April 7, 1987 | Busch |
4721830 | January 26, 1988 | Dagan et al. |
4744622 | May 17, 1988 | Cherry |
5017739 | May 21, 1991 | Hoffman |
5066095 | November 19, 1991 | Dekeyser et al. |
5169013 | December 8, 1992 | Lammens, Jr. |
5222176 | June 22, 1993 | Webber |
5261018 | November 9, 1993 | Suganuma |
5266741 | November 30, 1993 | Butler |
5937903 | August 17, 1999 | Afshar |
6521833 | February 18, 2003 | DeFreitas |
7381893 | June 3, 2008 | Kerr, Jr. |
7824213 | November 2, 2010 | Korcz |
8033058 | October 11, 2011 | Block |
8128126 | March 6, 2012 | Poupore |
8476541 | July 2, 2013 | Kiely |
8497424 | July 30, 2013 | Castaldo |
9057862 | June 16, 2015 | Strasser |
9231392 | January 5, 2016 | Rogers |
9353930 | May 31, 2016 | Freier |
9360676 | June 7, 2016 | Corrigan |
20090107693 | April 30, 2009 | Meyer |
20100033885 | February 11, 2010 | Hotchkiss |
20100193237 | August 5, 2010 | Drane |
20110108319 | May 12, 2011 | Gauthier |
20120181786 | July 19, 2012 | Morris |
20150047897 | February 19, 2015 | Zimet |
20150188301 | July 2, 2015 | Rogers |
20150263499 | September 17, 2015 | Korcz |
20180337521 | November 22, 2018 | Cerka |
Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 18, 2018
Date of Patent: Sep 10, 2019
Assignee: Steed Hammond Paul, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH)
Inventors: Ronald J. Hicks (Cincinnati, OH), Gary E. Johnson (Milan, IN)
Primary Examiner: Joshua K Ihezie
Application Number: 15/955,998
International Classification: H02G 3/08 (20060101); H02G 3/12 (20060101); H02G 3/38 (20060101); E06B 7/28 (20060101);